Convertible billiard and pool table.



No- 826,088. PATENTEDJULY 17, 1906.

V I P. M. CUNNINGHAM.

CONVERTIBLE BILLIARD AND POOL TABLE.

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INO- 826,088. PATBNTED JULY 17, 1906.

- P. M. CUNNINGHAM.

CONVERTIBLE BILLIARD AND POOL TABLE.

' APPLICATION FILED T12R24, 1904- 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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A 770/?NEYS UNITED STATES PATRICK MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CONVERTIBLE BILLIARD AND POOL TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 17, 1906.

Application filed February 24, 190 Serial No. 195,046.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, PATRICK MIoHAEL CUNNINGHAM, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of the Bronx,.in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Convertible Billiard and Pool Table, of which the following is a full, clear, and eX- act description.

The object of the invention is to provide for use a new nd improved convertible bilhard and pool table which is simple and durable in construction, perfect in action when used either as a carom or a pocket table, and arranged to permit convenient and quick conversion from a pocket-table to a caromtable, or vice versa, without the aid of skilled labor and without disturbing the pocket-irons or other fittings of the pockettable.

The invention consists of certain novel structural features and parts and in certain combinations of the same, as will be more fully described hereinafter and as will be found most particularly pointed out in the claims of this specification.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which the same characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a corner portion of the table, showing the same arranged for use as a carorntable. an enlarged partial transverse vertical section of the table, showing particularly the connection between the cushion-lining and the rail. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the body portion of one of the cushion-lining sections detached. Fig. 4 is a plan view, on a smaller scale, of the improved table arranged for use as a carom-table. Fig. 5 is a like view of the same arranged for use as a pocket or pool table. Fig. 6 is a sectional perspective view of a portion of a cushion-lining and cushionstrip detached. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of one of the metal bars that are combined with wooden cushion-linings to strengthen the same and provide means for rigidly securing the cushion-lining sections to the rails of the table.

The bed A of the table is surrounded by rails B, which rise above the bed at each of its sides, as is plainly shown in Fig. 2, and the said rails B are provided with the usualpermanently-arranged corner-pockets O and Fig. 2 is' l side pockets C, suspended from the usual j pocket-irons C of a pocket-table, as is plainly indicated in Figs. 1, 4, and 5. Onthe ,inner sides of the rails B at the portions 1 which project above the bed A are adapted to be secured two sets of cushion-linings D and D, each made in sections, the usual rub ber cushion-strips E being secured to the said sections in the usual manner.

As shown in Fig. 4, the cushion-linings D consist of four sections, one for each side rail and one for each end rail, the sections being mitered at their contiguous ends to form a continuous rubber cushion for the balls to strike on when playing caroms. The other set of cushion-linings D consists of six sections, one for each end and two for each side rail, the ends being mitered and these mitered ends of the adjacent sections spaced apart to leave the usual flared openings leading to the pockets C and C, as is plainly indicated in Fig. 5.

In order to removably secure the linings, with their rubber cushions E, in position on the rails B, I provide each cushion-lining section D or D with a metallic bar F, having a plurality of nuts or tapped bosses F,with which engage the ends of the screw-rods G, which extend through apertures in the linings D D and in the rails B to the outer face of the latter, the extreme outer end of each screw-rod G being formed with a thumbpiece G, adapted to be taken hold of by the operator to conveniently turn the said screwrod to draw the lining D or D tight against the rails B or to unscrew said screw-rod G from the nut F when it is desired to interchange one set of cushion-linings for the other. The screw-rod G is also provided adjacent to the thumb-piece G with a collar G which is adapted to abut against a washer H in the rail B, it being understood that each of the screw-rods G is inclined downwardly and outwardly from the nut F, so as to insure a proper holding of the back side of the lining D or D against the inner side of the rail B and of its under side against the bed, said under side being on top of the bed A, as will be readily understood by reference to'Fig. 2.

The metallic bar F is arranged in a longitudinal recess D formed in the body portion of the lining D, and the threaded bosses or nuts F fit into corresponding bores D and each lining has a filling-piece D for closing the outer portion of the recess 1) after the bar F is in place, as will be readily understood by reference to Figs. 2 and 6.

From the foregoing it is evident that a person can readily remove one set of linings, with the rubber cushions thereon, and re place the same by the other set of linings to change the caromtable into a pocket-table, or vice versa. It is understood that in either case the same screw-rods G are used, and the fixtures for the pocket-table are not disturbed in the least when the change is made to a carom-table, it being expressly understood that only the one set of linings is removed and replaced by another set of linings, as above described.

Although I have shown the pocket-table made with six pockets, I do not limit myself to such particular construction, as a less numberof pockets may be permanently arranged in connection with. the rails B.

I prefer to use in each cushion-lining a metallic bar F, provided with a series of nuts instead of a plurality of nuts, so as to form a metal filled or loaded cushion-lining which is very rigid and not liable to undesirable vibration, especially at the pocket-openings.

From the foregoing it is evident that as each lining D or D is slotted or grooved out and filled in with metal throughout its entire length a very solid resistance is afforded to the rubber cushion-strip E and the balls striking the same, and, furthermore, the linings are not liable to warp or become otherwise injured when in disuse, so that the table remains perfect at all times, whether it is being used as a carom-table or a pocket-table.

As my invention does not require (in its application to an old billiard or pool table) any new cushion-rails or any special pocketirons, it will be readily understood that a saving in cost is effected in making old pockettables convertible according to my invention.

As it is desirable to have a continuous even surface of carom-rail top, I attach to the carom-linings D special parts D D, (see Fig. 4,) made of wood or metal, to fill in the spaces between the bows of the pocket-irons and the sides of the linings and attached thereto with screws or otherwise, as may be desired. By this arrangement a hand-rest all around the table is provided for the player when the table is adjusted for use as a carom-table.

This invention can also be applied to a pool-table already fitted with ball-gutters without any disarrangement of or interference with the gutter attachments.

Having now so fully described my inven tion that any one skilled in the art of making billiard-tables can build a convertible table embodying said invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. A convertible carom and pocket bilhard-table comprising a bed; rails surrounding the bed and rising above the surface thereof; cushion-linings, in sections, for re movable engagement with the insides of said rails, each section of the cushion-linings comprising a body portion resting on the bed and engaging the inside of the rail, and means for drawing the section downward and outward against the bed and the inside of the rail; as set forth.

2. A convertible carom and pocket bil hard-table comprising a bed; rails surrounding the bed and rising above the surface thereof; cushion-linings in sections, each section comprising a body portion resting at its under side on the bed and engaging the inner side of a rail; and screw-rods extending through the rails and engaging the sections of the cushion-linings, to hold the same in place; the said screw-rods extending downwardly and outwardly from the lining to the outer faces of the rails and serving to draw the lining tightly against the bed and rail, as set forth.

3. A convertible carom and pocket bilhard-table, having permanent rails attached to and rising above the bed; cushion-lining sections provided with rubber cushion-strips; each section having a body portion formed with a longitudinal recess and metallic bars inserted in said recesses and provided with nuts, to receive the threaded ends of screwrods which extend through the permanent rails and serve to draw home and hold securely in place the said cushion-lining sections; substantially as set forth.

4. A convertible carom and pocket billiard-table having cushion-linings each comprising a body portion having a longitudinal recess formed therein and a bore or aperture extending from said recess through the body portion; metallic bars arranged in said recesses, and provided. with threaded bosses, forming nuts that fit into the said bore in the body portion; and screw-rods for screwing into said bosses; to secure the linings to the rails of the table, as set forth.

5. In a convertible carom and pocket bilhard-table, the combination, with the usual bed; and permanently-arranged rails rising above the level of the bed, of interchangeable sets of cushion-lining sections, each of which contains a metallic bar running length wise of it and provided with means for the engagement therewith of suitable devices for securing in place said cushiondining sections; substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PATRICK MIC HAEL CUNNINGHAM.

Witnesses:

M. J. DEERY, JOHN M. WILLrs. 

